A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 38% currently, from 34% at the same point in 2009. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Monday

With the second week of "Skating with the Stars" in its new time period and the "CMA Country Christmas" special, ABC (6.7 million) outdrew NBC on Monday night by 12% (6.0 million) and Fox by 18% (5.7 million).

"Skating with the Stars" (8:00-9:30 p.m.)

Leading off the night from 8:00-9:30 p.m., ABC's "Skating with the Stars" defeated Fox's programming in the 90-minute time slot by 11% in Total Viewers (6.1 million vs. 5.5 million - "House"-R/"Lie to Me").

"CMA Country Christmas" (9:30-11:00 p.m.)

Building sharply on its lead-in (+20%), ABC's "CMA Country Christmas" special drew an average audience of 7.3 million viewers during its 90-minute telecast, topping original competition on NBC and Fox by wide margins. At 9:30 p.m., "CMA Country Christmas" bested the final half-hour of Fox's "Lie to Me" by 1.0 million viewers (7.3 million vs. 6.3 million) and from 9:30-11:00 p.m. beat out NBC's "The Event"/"Chase" by 1.4 million viewers (7.3 million vs. 5.9 million).

· "CMA Country Christmas" improved its time period for ABC over the same night last year (11/30/09) by 1.0 million viewers (7.3 million vs. 6.3 million).

Tuesday

ABC posted strong year-over-year gains on Tuesday, jumping over the year-ago evening by 1.9 million viewers (6.9 million vs. 5.0 million) and by 19% in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.6/4).

· The animated Christmas specials generated ABC's highest Kids 2-11 number (3.7/11) in the time period in nearly 1 year - since 12/15/09.

"No Ordinary Family" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Shifting an hour later into its new 9 o'clock time period, ABC's "No Ordinary Family" outdrew Fox's "Glee"-fueled original comedies by 1.0 million viewers (6.2 million vs. 5.2 million - "Raising Hope"/"Running Wilde").

· The freshman series improved its new time period for ABC (+1.7 million viewers) over original programming in the hour on the same night last year (6.2 million vs. 4.5 million - "Scrubs"/"Scrubs").

· Building by 6% week to week in Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.8/5), "No Ordinary Family" posted its 2nd straight week of young adult audience gains. In addition, the show matched its best-since-premiere rating with Kids 2-11 (1.6/6).

"Detroit 1-8-7" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour against special competition, including CBS' "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" and the second hour of NBC's 2-hour "The Biggest Loser," ABC's "Detroit 1-8-7" boosted its time slot from the year-ago night with original programming by wide margins in both Total Viewers (+33% - 7.3 million vs. 5.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+33% - 1.6/4 vs. 1.2/3 - "The Forgotten").

Wednesday

"The Middle" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

ABC's repeat "The Middle" finished second at 8:00 p.m. to CBS' "Survivor: Nicaragua" in Total Viewers (6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.9/6), beating original programming in the half-hour on Fox ("Human Target" - 5.6 million & 1.5/5) and NBC ("Undercovers" - 4.9 million & 1.3/4).

· "The Middle" marked its best-ever repeat performance on the night in viewers and young adults.

ABC led the broadcast pack by a wide margin on Thursday night in Adults 18-49 (3.0/8), topping runner-up NBC by 36% (2.2/6).

· ABC was up from the same night last year (12/3/09), which included an all-original lineup, in both Total Viewers (+4% - 8.8 million vs. 8.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+7% - 3.0/8 vs. 2.8/8).

"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

ABC's special annual rebroadcast of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" ranked as the No. 1 entertainment show in its 8:00-9:00 p.m. time period among Adults 18-49 (2.3/7), tying Fox's original "Bones" in the hour. The ABC holiday special won the hour with Women 18-49 (2.9/8) and Kids 2-11 (3.8/13), standing as Thursday's No. 1 TV show in the latter measure.

· "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" generated the Net's 2nd-largest audience (7.4 million) in the hour this season, while marking its highest Kids 2-11 number in the slot in more than 5 years (since 11/24/05).

"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)

Returning after a Thanksgiving holiday pre-emption the previous week, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" towered over Thursday's 9 o'clock hour in Adults 18-49 (4.0/10), registering as the No. 1 series in the slot for its 10th consecutive telecast this season. "Grey's" beat out its nearest competition in the time period by 29% (NBC's original comedies - "The Office"/"Outsourced" - 3.1/8).

· Grey's was the most-watched show overall on Thursday (11.0 million). In addition, for its 2nd consecutive telecast, Grey's stood as Thursday's top-rated TV show with Adults 18-49.

"Private Practice" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "Private Practice" topped its competition in the 10 o'clock hour by wide margins among Adults 18-49 (2.8/8), leading CBS' replay of "The Mentalist" by 65% (1.7/5) and the season's penultimate episode of NBC's "The Apprentice" by 100% (1.4/4).

Friday

ABC ran in a virtual tie for first place against its network rivals on Friday in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5), pacing within 1-tenth of a rating point of CBS and tying in audience share for the night. In Adults 18-49, ABC outdelivered NBC on Friday by 67% (0.9/3) and Fox by 114% (0.7/3).

· The Net's Friday numbers surged over the year-ago evening (12/4/09), building by 18% in Total Viewers (5.3 million vs. 4.5 million) and by 25% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/5 vs. 1.2/4).

"20/20" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC's "20/20" won the 10 o'clock hour by a strong margin among Adults 18-49 (1.9/6), beating second-place CBS' original "Blue Bloods" by 12% (1.7/6). In addition, the ABC newsmagazine registered as Friday's No. 1 show on the major nets in the key young adult sales demo. "20/20" featured Ashleigh Banfield's report on whether a mother in Florida should be convicted of a murder, based on the testimony of her 7-year-old son. The program also included a segment on Rhema Marvanne, an 8-year-old gospel singer with a powerhouse voice.

· ABC's "20/20" generated its 2nd-highest numbers this season in Total Viewers (6.8 million) and Adults 18-49, while equaling a season high with Adults 25-54 (2.6/8). In fact, the ABC newsmagazine matched its top Adult 25-54 number since early January - since 1/8/10.

Saturday

ABC turned in a dominant victory on Saturday evening with coverage of the "Big 12 Championship" (Oklahoma vs. Nebraska), topping its nearest competition (Fox) by 73% in Total Viewers (8.5 million vs. 4.9 million) and by 56% in Adults 18-49 (2.5/8 vs. 1.6/5). It was ABC's 2nd straight win on the night in viewers and young adults.

· In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC posted season highs on Saturday, marking its strongest numbers on the night in 1 year - since 12/5/09.

Airing in originals for the first time in three weeks, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" stood as the top non-sports program in the hour in both Total Viewers (11.4 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.6/8) in its 7th consecutive original telecast. In head-to-head competition, "Housewives" topped CBS' "Undercover Boss" by 9% in Total Viewers (11.4 million vs. 10.5 million) and by 33% in Adults 18-49 (3.6/8 vs. 2.7/6).

· "Housewives" finished as Sunday's most-watched entertainment TV show overall for its 6th straight original telecast.